The Radiator Company has launched Accorto – a slimline towel rail that combines sleek, minimalist design with high performance for modern bathrooms. This flat-fronted steel towel rail offers a clean finish with a slim, flat vertical panel that radiates heat across the entire surface. The Accorto has the option of one or two integrated horizontal brushed stainless steel towel bars, which can be colour-matched. A range of customisation options include a choice of over 200 colou

Engineered stone worktops are a smart specification for housebuilders looking to add value and appeal to new kitchens, according to Joanne Bull of Königstone. Often referred to as quartz, engineered stone worktops offer the luxurious look of natural stone with enhanced durability. They’re scratch- and stain-resistant, easy to maintain, and don’t require sealing – making them ideal for busy households. Available in a wide range of colours and finishes, these surfaces suit ever

Stuart Reynolds, UK Marketing & Product Management Director at AKW, discusses how bathrooms can be a difficult place for those living with dementia and how this space can be adapted to better suit them. With an ageing population, it is no surprise that dementia is on the rise in the general population. However, building specifications to accommodate this issue are playing catch up. This guidance is based on work with the University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development

TG Escapes explores Surrey County Council’s blended estates strategy for the provision of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in schools and educational establishments. At the recent Education Estates conference, Euan Leslie, Programme Manager for Surrey County Council, along with Chris Leese, Technical Director at TG Escapes Modular, presented “ ModernMethods,InclusiveFutures ”, a detailed look into a highly successful programme for expanding Special Educational Needs

The Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort – winner of the Best UK Hotel Spa award 2024 – is taking its visitor experiences to the next level, with contribution from Gilberts Blackpool. The globally renowned venue has invested £16m in a new Woodland Spa thermal experience set within the facility’s 100-acre grounds in the heart of Lancashire. The three-storey building includes a gym, bar, restaurant, treatment rooms, relaxation rooms, indoor swimming pool plus jacuzzi, salt steam room a

Jack Aluminium Systems has achieved STS202-BR2 approval for its TD68 thermal door system, confirming its capability to meet BR2-level security performance – equivalent to LPS1175 SR2. The approval has already acted as a catalyst for increased Q4 sales, as specifiers and fabricators look for aluminium alternatives to steel in high-security projects. Historically, STS202-BR2 approvals have been achieved mainly by steel doorsets. The standard measures a door’s ability to resist

Northwest contractor Winrow Building Services has recently completed the installation of a new high-performance system for heating and hot water production at a 111-bedroom hotel in Birmingham City Centre.  The hotel is part of one of the world’s biggest chains and the system has been augmented with SPF calculations and complete system integration for maximum operational efficiencies.   The new system consists of two 27kW R290 heat pumps, optimised with a bespoke 800-litre pr

Alex Brock, Senior Pre-Construction Manager at B&K Hybrid Solutions, explores timber’s growing use in leisure facilities and explores the Cozenton Park Sports Centre project. In the ever-evolving landscape of leisure, the use of engineered timber has emerged as a key material. Sustainable, efficient, and visually striking, timber has become the material of choice for forward-thinking developments across the UK.  Few projects demonstrate this better than the newly completed Co

The world’s first Passivhaus-certified leisure centre needed a highly efficient external air barrier to meet the required standards. St Sidwell’s Point in Exeter is the world’s first Passivhaus-certified, multi-zoned leisure centre. Developed on a brownfield site, it comprises a 25m main pool and 20m learner pool, a confidence water pool, and a 100-seat spectator area. There is also a cafe, soft play area, gym, health suites, and spa. The £44 million, world-leading project in

Jo Foulkes, Commercial Operations Manager from Kingfisher Louvres, explains how its practical solutions have been used in three different hotel refurbishments.  When it comes to hotel design, external louvres need to perfectly balance performance attributes such as weather protection, ventilation and acoustic attenuation without detracting from the exterior aesthetic. From boutique city centre venues to luxury countryside resorts, hotels need extensive plant equipment and, wi

GE Door Manufacturing has announced the launch of the GE Hygrothermal Doorset  - the only UK-manufactured doorset independently tested and certified to meet EN 12219  for hygrothermal performance. The new product provides verified compliance with the Department for Education’s (DfE) requirements for school doorsets, helping architects, contractors and facilities managers meet official performance standards with confidence. The DfE recommends that certain school doorsets must

Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has scooped the ‘Domestic Ventilation Product of the Year’ award at the prestigious H&V News Awards. The Sussex-based company secured the accolade for its Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq range of Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR). The win demonstrates Vent-Axia’s design leadership, providing a range of effective whole-house ventilation solutions to help overcome the challenges the New-Build Residential sector faces.

Andrews Water Heaters supplied a new system to a hotel in Cirencester as part of a replacement project. Specify & Build reports. The Kings Head Hotel, a boutique 64-bedroom Cotswold Inn in the heart of Cirencester, is well known for the consistently high-quality service it offers its guests. As with all hotel buildings, ensuring a reliable and efficient hot water supply is a priority for the hotel owners, Brakspear Group, for the comfort and safety of its guests.  So, when th

EJOT UK has provided fixing solutions for the building envelope of a new $1 billion LEGO factory. The EJOT Group collaboration, led by EJOT Asia, has provided a complete building envelope fastening solution for the construction of the US $1bn factory at the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park III in Binh Duong near Ho Chi Minh City.   The project involved EJOT UK manufacturing and supplying more than 750,000 EJOT HTK 2G 50 tube-washers for use in combination with EJOT TKR faste

SkillBuild 2025 concluded last week with a final held at the Arena Milton Keynes from the 18 th  to 20 th  November. Eight worthy roofing finalists were set a task and given just 18 hours to slate and tile a roof. SIG Roofing is proud to be a sponsor of the event, donating quality materials for the future generation of roofers to demonstrate their skills.   Photo Caption: Ready, Set, Go – finalist Roofers at  Skill Build 2025 The annual SkillBuild event and construction showc